THIS summer, as in most summers, a lot of the action in New York theater is in the smaller, lower-profile productions. And we've been interested in one particular solo show since it played last fall at the tiny Schoolhouse Theater up in Westchester. Elaine Del Valle is the star, telling the story of her poverty-defined New York childhood; what was funny, sad, terrifying (a neighbor, Crackhead Wanda, was all three) and sometimes great about it; and how she escaped. Del Valle might be just as inspiring if she were ordinary-looking, but it doesn't hurt that she's movie-star beautiful.
CURRENT GIG "Brownsville Bred," her solo show about growing up Latina in the '80s. The New York Post ("You'll Eat Up Sweet 'Bred' ") critic gave it three stars.
AGE 40.
BORN AND RAISED Brooklyn, N.Y. (As the title says.)
ALMA MATER Brooklyn Technical High School. (She was also accepted by the High School of Performing Arts, but her mother was horrified by the thought of Elaine becoming an actress. Oh, well.)
AVAILABILITY Married.
OTHER ACTING GIGS "Elliot Loves" (2011), an indie film about a young Dominican-American man, shot in New York. And you may have caught her as the voice of Val the Octopus on "Dora the Explorer."
ADVICE FOR GETTING WHATEVER YOU WANT "It's not who's going to let you [succeed]. It's who's going to stop you." ("From Girlhood Trials to Onstage Triumph," The New York Times.)
"Brownsville Bred," by Elaine Del Valle, directed by Pamela Moller Kareman, 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th Street, (212) 279-4200, 59e59.org.
WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read about the stunning Atlantic II production of Howard Barker's "Victory: Choices in Reaction." Then search to read about John Larroquette, Norbert Leo Butz, Edie Falco, Tyne Daly, Brian Bedford, Laurie Metcalf, Sutton Foster, Christian Borle, Julie Taymor, this year's Tony Awards, this year's Commy Awards, "War Horse," "The Book of Mormon" and a lot of other fabulous people and shows.
CURRENT GIG "Brownsville Bred," her solo show about growing up Latina in the '80s. The New York Post ("You'll Eat Up Sweet 'Bred' ") critic gave it three stars.
AGE 40.
BORN AND RAISED Brooklyn, N.Y. (As the title says.)
ALMA MATER Brooklyn Technical High School. (She was also accepted by the High School of Performing Arts, but her mother was horrified by the thought of Elaine becoming an actress. Oh, well.)
AVAILABILITY Married.
OTHER ACTING GIGS "Elliot Loves" (2011), an indie film about a young Dominican-American man, shot in New York. And you may have caught her as the voice of Val the Octopus on "Dora the Explorer."
ADVICE FOR GETTING WHATEVER YOU WANT "It's not who's going to let you [succeed]. It's who's going to stop you." ("From Girlhood Trials to Onstage Triumph," The New York Times.)
"Brownsville Bred," by Elaine Del Valle, directed by Pamela Moller Kareman, 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th Street, (212) 279-4200, 59e59.org.
WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read about the stunning Atlantic II production of Howard Barker's "Victory: Choices in Reaction." Then search to read about John Larroquette, Norbert Leo Butz, Edie Falco, Tyne Daly, Brian Bedford, Laurie Metcalf, Sutton Foster, Christian Borle, Julie Taymor, this year's Tony Awards, this year's Commy Awards, "War Horse," "The Book of Mormon" and a lot of other fabulous people and shows.
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